Wakana's ShuPro column from July
>Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Nakano for work. The first place I lived after moving to Tokyo was in a house located between Nakano and Koenji. Both areas are vibrant with shopping streets, many restaurants, and excellent transportation access. I absolutely love these neighborhoods. While walking around Nakano, feeling nostalgic, I found myself reminiscing about those early days. Until my first year of university, I commuted to Tokyo from my family home in Ebina, Kanagawa, by train. Since I had been commuting to a school in Tokyo by train since middle school, I was used to traveling there. However, balancing university studies with my entertainment career left me with no time, so I decided to move to Tokyo. I grew up in a relatively conservative family—my father is a university professor, and most of my relatives work in traditional, stable careers. Because of this, my family was opposed to my entertainment pursuits. I understood that they were worried about me and thought it would be safer and less challenging to aim for a stable career. Still, I couldn't give up on my dreams, and I chose to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
>I knew my parents would oppose my move to Tokyo, so I started by saving up money for the move and additional funds to live on in case my entertainment work suddenly stopped. At the same time, I studied hard to maintain top grades in university, hoping to gain their trust and ease their worries, even just a little. Once I saved enough money, I went out on my own after classes to check out apartments and handle the moving procedures. I prepared everything up to the point where my parents only needed to sign off, then made the move somewhat forcefully. Looking back, I know I caused my parents a lot of worry with my selfish actions. But I believe that decision and those actions shaped who I am today and marked a pivotal moment when I became determined to succeed in entertainment.
